When this space advocated skipping Matt Harvey for his start this Saturday, this isn’t what we meant.
When news broke that Matt Harvey was put on the 15-day disabled list today with shoulder discomfort and will be seen by Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis tomorrow, there was a bit sigh of relief.
He’s 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA, essentially making him a No. 5 starter and frankly not a very good one. As long it’s not his elbow, then no worries. You have to think he will get better and be available down the stretch.
At least we have an answer now for what was wrong with Harvey.
But after multiple outlets reported that the Mets fear Harvey may have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, you had to get more concerned.
Essentially, TOS is a blockage of the blood vessels and nerves in the shoulder where they essentially get squashed. It can be relieved by surgery, but if that happens, then it will be see you in 2017. Former Yankee Phil Hughes had season ending surgery to remove a rib to relieve this condition just last week and former Met and current Royal Chris Young had the condition a few years ago.
The good news is that it seems curable and the worse Harvey will lose is this season.
But, boy are the Mets injury bit. Last season, we learned everything about Spinal Stenosis and this season it’s TOS. It seems like you need a medical degree to follow the Mets these days.
Unfortunately, this injury is no laughing matter. First, you want Harvey to be healthy. When he is at his best, the Mets look unstoppable.
And secondly, Harvey’s injury suddenly makes the Mets somewhat pitching thin in the starting rotation. Both Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz have bone spurs in their elbows. Matz will need surgery to remove them, which the club hopes happens in the off-season.
But if he doesn’t make the full season, then the Mets are down two of their four big starters. Sure, Zach Wheeler will probably be back sometime in August, but now you have to hope there are no other setbacks and he won’t have a Tommy John hangover.
It looks like Logan Verrett will get the first crack at Harvey’s spot and that will be fine. He certainly will be better than an injured Dark Knight, but the Mets may also call up prospect Gabriel Ynoa, who is 9-3 with a 3.92 ERA in Triple-A Las Vegas. Today the Mets called up Seth Lugo who pitched two scoreless innings last Friday in his big league debut.
It’s going to be tricky for the club over the next few weeks. Going into the trading deadline, you have to wonder if the Mets will look to rent a starter if Harvey is out for the season and none of the internal options pander out.
And if they have to get a starter, then some of their resources will be taken away from other areas where the Mets will look to upgrade.
It’s definitely another curveball for the Amazin’s who suffered a number of them this season.
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